52
HEADLONG HALL.
material change in his relative situation to other individuals. Unluckily for the rest of your argument, the understanding of literary people is for the most part exalted, as you express it, not so much by the love of truth and virtue, as by arrogance and self-sufficiency; and there is perhaps less disinterestedness, less liberality, less general benevolence, and more envy, hatred, and uncharitableness among them, than among any other description of men.
(The eye of Mr. Escot, as he pronounced these words, rested very innocently and unintentionally on Mr. Gall.)
Mr. Gall.
You allude, Sir, I presume, to my Review?
Mr. Escot.
Pardon me, Sir. You will be convinced it is impossible I can allude to your Review, when
